Clinical outcomes of redo valvular operations: A 20-year experience

Background: A higher operative mortality rate has been reported after redo valvular procedures than after the primary operation. Methods: Outcomes of 330 consecutive patients undergoing 433 redo valvular operations at our institute during a 20-year period (January 1990 to December 2010) were reviewed retrospectively. The mean follow-up was 6.4 years (range, 0.05 to 1.3 years). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with hospital death. Results: The overall hospital mortality rate was 6.7% (29 of 433 procedures). Logistic regression analysis identified only advanced New York Heart Association (NYHA) class as an independent predictor of hospital death. Overall survival at 5, 10, and 15 years was 83.6% ± 2.2%, 70.7% ± 3.4%, and 61.5% ± 4.5%, respectively. The 5-, 10-, and 15-year survivals for the first redo vs more than second redo groups were 86.5% ± 2.4% vs 74.7% ± 5.5%, 71.8% ± 3.9% vs 66.8% ± 6.6%, and 60.2% ± 5.7% vs 63.1% ± 7.2%, respectively (log-rank P = 0.505). The 5- and 10-year survivals for NYHA class I/II vs III/IV patients were 91.5% ± 2.1% vs 70.4% ± 4.5% and 77.8% ± 4.1% vs 58.5% ± 5.6%, respectively (log-rank p < 0.005). Conclusions: Redo valvular operation in NYHA class III/IV patients is associated with high hospital death and poor long-term survival. To achieve low hospital death and good long-term survival, redo operations, including more than third redo operations, should be performed in patients with lower NYHA class.